Crypto World
Coinbase makes a major play for India’s booming $3 billion crypto market with local currency launch
Nasdaq-listed Coinbase exchange announced Monday a major market move: the launch of direct rails for Indian rupees (INR).
Starting June 1, 2026, the exchange’s Indian customers can deposit and withdraw rupees directly from their bank accounts via the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), a move designed to eliminate the need for intermediaries and simplify the often-clunky process of entering the crypto market in the region.
For a long time, Indians have had to rely on Peer-to-Peer (P2P) markets or third-party intermediaries to fund their crypto accounts. This method can be slow and, at times, risky, often leaving vulnerable users to payment scams or the sudden freezing of their bank accounts by law enforcement due to suspicious fund trails from unknown counterparties. Coinbase is bypassing that by integrating directly with the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS).
Coinbase’s latest move means its customers can transfer funds from their local bank accounts directly to the Coinbase platform and back again.
“India has long been one of the most important markets in crypto, in terms of developer talent, trading activity, and the broader adoption of blockchain technology,” said John O’Loghlen, Coinbase’s Head of APAC, in the announcement shared with CoinDesk.
The country has been ranked among the top countries driving crypto adoption in the APAC market in 2025, and ranked first in the Global Crypto Adoption Index, according to Chainalysis data. In fact, according to the consulting firm Imarc, the Indian cryptocurrency market reached $3.04 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $14.21 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 18.66% during 2026-2034 time period.
‘Here for the long-term’
The launch isn’t just for beginners, however. While retail traders can access spot markets for major assets, the platform is also introducing perpetual futures contracts.
For the “pro” crowd, the “Coinbase Advanced” suite will offer institutional-grade tools, including TradingView integration and sophisticated APIs. Notably, by building local INR order books, Coinbase ensures users aren’t trading against global prices but have dedicated liquidity right at home.
The goal is to provide the same platform trusted by global institutions to India’s massive retail base, Coinbase said.
Regulation has always been the elephant in the room for crypto in India.
Coinbase first opened its platform to Indians in 2022 but ran into a roadblock within days when the UPI operator, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), dismissed Coinbase’s then launch of UPI support, saying it was unaware of any such arrangement involving a crypto exchange.
Coinbase is tackling regulatory challenges head-on this time by registering with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), the central national agency responsible for analyzing and disseminating information on suspicious financial transactions.
The FIU registration is a clear signal that the exchange is seeking a long-term presence in the world’s fastest-growing major economy and most populous country.
The latest offering builds on years of quiet groundwork. Coinbase is already an investor in local exchange CoinDCX and has funneled over $1 million into Indian developers through its “Base” Layer 2 network.
“With the launch of direct INR rails, we’re making Coinbase fully accessible to Indian retail traders, with the same platform trusted by institutions and traders around the world. We’re registered with FIU-IND and here for the long-term,” O’Loghlen said.
Crypto World
Treasury Moves to Speed Fraud Detection With New FinCEN Guidance
TLDR:
- FinCEN clarifies how banks can share suspected fraud data under Section 314(b) program rules
- Guidance allows sharing of IP addresses, login patterns, and fraud indicators across institutions
- Move supports Treasury effort to disrupt fraud networks through faster interbank coordination
- Regulators push risk-based AML modernization to improve fraud detection and compliance efficiency
FinCEN issued updated guidance on information sharing under Section 314(b) of the USA PATRIOT Act on June 12, 2026. The move clarifies how banks and financial institutions can exchange fraud-related data in real time.
Treasury officials said the framework targets fraud, money laundering, and other illicit financial activity. The guidance arrives as regulators intensify efforts to curb scams affecting both traditional finance and crypto markets.
FinCEN Fraud Guidance Expands 314(b) Information Sharing for Financial Institutions
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network clarified how institutions can share information on suspected fraud cases under Section 314(b). Eligible banks, credit unions, and other financial firms can now exchange data linked to illicit activity.
The update aims to remove uncertainty that previously slowed cross-institution cooperation. It also reinforces legal safe harbor protections for participating institutions. This clarification strengthens operational confidence for compliance teams handling real-time fraud alerts.
FinCEN said institutions may share cyber indicators such as IP addresses and login patterns. They can also exchange fraud signals including unusual payee additions and large transfers.
Video surveillance and identity mismatches were also listed as usable data points. These categories reflect broader digital and behavioral fraud detection techniques used in modern compliance systems.
The guidance reinforces voluntary participation in the 314(b) safe harbor program.
Authorities stressed that timely data sharing improves detection of money laundering and fraud networks. It also supports faster identification of coordinated criminal activity across accounts.
Participation remains optional but is strongly encouraged by regulators for systemic risk reduction.
Officials noted that fraud continues to drain significant value from consumers and businesses annually. The updated framework focuses on enabling quicker responses before illicit flows spread further.
Regulators said improved coordination remains central to financial system resilience. This approach prioritizes prevention rather than post-incident investigation.
Treasury Fraud Crackdown Links Institutions with Broader Crypto Monitoring Efforts
The Treasury Department framed the update within a broader fraud prevention initiative. It aligns with a task force focused on eliminating fraud across financial channels.
The effort includes coordination with federal banking agencies and enforcement bodies. It forms part of a wider national strategy to strengthen financial integrity systems.
Officials said financial crime increasingly overlaps with digital asset ecosystems. Banks and compliance teams often monitor transactions that intersect with crypto platforms.
Improved data sharing may help detect laundering patterns tied to digital asset flows. Regulators continue to examine risk exposure across both traditional and blockchain-based rails.
The guidance emphasizes rapid communication between institutions during suspicious activity events.
Faster exchange of indicators can help prevent fraud from spreading across multiple accounts. This reduces delays that criminals often exploit in fragmented reporting systems.
Speed of coordination remains a key variable in effective fraud disruption.
FinCEN also highlighted modernization of anti-money laundering frameworks. The shift moves toward risk-based supervision and more efficient resource allocation.
Institutions are encouraged to focus on high-risk activity rather than low-risk accounts. This adjustment aims to improve enforcement precision while reducing compliance burden.
Crypto World
Anthropic Cuts Off Access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 Over US Directive
Anthropic said it has suspended access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models after receiving a U.S. government export control directive tied to national security concerns. The company disabled access for all users, including foreign nationals, effective immediately after it received the order at 5:21 p.m. ET on Friday.
In a statement posted on its website, Anthropic said the directive instructed it to suspend “all access” to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 by any foreign national, regardless of whether they are located inside or outside the United States. The company also said its other models, such as Opus 4.8, are not affected by the order.
Key takeaways
- Anthropic suspended global access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 after a U.S. export control directive citing national security concerns.
- The order was received at 5:21 p.m. ET and required the company to halt access “by any foreign national,” including foreign national employees.
- Other Anthropic models, including Opus 4.8, are reported as unaffected.
- Anthropic says the government provided only verbal evidence of a narrow, non-universal jailbreak risk.
- The company disputes the premise that such a finding should trigger a recall-style response for models used at large scale.
Export-control order forces worldwide suspension
According to Anthropic, the directive it received compelled the company to remove access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all users. Anthropic said it acted abruptly to comply with the government’s legal instruction and ensure the directive’s requirements are met.
While the company did not provide additional details in the statement about the specific nature of the alleged threat, it said it understands authorities are concerned about a potential “jailbreak” method that could bypass the models’ safeguards.
What Anthropic says the government’s concern is
Anthropic characterized the government’s evidence as limited and not universal in scope. The company said the government did not provide detailed technical information but instead offered “verbal evidence” of a potential narrow, non-universal jailbreak. Anthropic described that type of jailbreak as involving requests for the model to read a specific codebase and then fix software flaws found there.
In Anthropic’s framing, a non-universal jailbreak is fundamentally different from a “universal jailbreak”—the latter would enable broad, repeatable bypasses that work across many contexts. Anthropic argued that the alleged risk, as presented to the company, appears narrower than what would be required for a universal safeguard failure.
The company also expressed disagreement with treating a narrow, potential jailbreak as justification to roll back a frontier model that it said is deployed at very large scale. Anthropic argued that if the same threshold were applied industry-wide, it would effectively stop new frontier model deployments.
Timeline: new releases followed by compliance shutdown
The suspension came only days after Anthropic released Fable 5 and Mythos 5. The release followed the company’s earlier work with “Mythos Preview,” a general-purpose language model that Anthropic has previously said identified thousands of vulnerabilities in critical software.
Earlier coverage noted that Fable 5 and Mythos 5 were built on top of Mythos Preview and designed to demonstrate advanced capabilities, including security-relevant behaviors. The company’s current statement indicates that the export-control directive arrived in the middle of this rollout cycle, leaving Anthropic to disable access immediately rather than adjust the models incrementally.
Anthropic also said it believes the government’s order may stem from a misunderstanding and that it is working toward restoring access for users as soon as possible.
Why this matters beyond AI product access
For investors, developers, and users, the episode highlights how quickly geopolitics and compliance requirements can intersect with frontier AI deployment. Even when a company believes an identified risk is narrow and non-universal, a government directive can still force immediate operational changes—particularly when export-control rules are interpreted to cover access by foreign nationals.
The situation also underscores a practical tension in model governance: technical risk assessments can point to targeted mitigation, while legal directives may impose broad suspension measures to ensure compliance. Anthropic’s claim that other models are not affected suggests the company may be trying to isolate the impacted releases, but the pathway back to normal availability is uncertain and depends on the government’s engagement.
Going forward, market participants and AI users will likely watch for any update on what additional evidence or clarification the government provides, whether Anthropic can demonstrate that the risk is contained, and how quickly access can be restored to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 without repeating the compliance-triggering conditions.
Crypto World
BTC vs. ETH vs. XRP: Which Is Closest to a Major Reversal? Analyst Explains
Following last week’s market-wide calamity in which the cryptocurrency markets shed over $400 billion and all major assets plummeted to yearly lows, many analysts have started speculating on where the bottom is.
The latest to do so was Ali Martinez, who outlined the lowest targets during this cycle for BTC, ETH, and XRP. Hint: there’s more pain ahead for all, according to his findings.
Bitcoin Bottom
The analyst with over 165,000 followers on X began with the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, indicating that the asset is “approaching a market bottom.” He noted that the MVRV Pricing Bands suggest the ultimate capitulation zone, and that level has historically been around the 0.8 MVRV Band.
If history repeats itself, it would represent another major leg down that will drive BTC toward $43,000. The other, less painful option would be a nosedive to the 1.0 MVRV Band, which is currently at $54,000.
Interestingly, another recent analysis on BTC’s potential bottom suggested that it could arrive during the ongoing World Cup in North America. BIT Research justified their prediction with bitcoin’s A-B-C structure it has been following since the October 2025 rejection and subsequent bear market.
ETH Major Decline
While the leg down for bitcoin could see a more modest 32% drop from the current levels to bottom out, ETH’s projected crash is a lot worse. Basing his analysis on Ethereum’s Delta Price model, which measures the relationship between investor cost basis and miner production costs, Martinez warned that the largest altcoin can plummet to $700.
This level has “consistently flagged generational accumulation floors.” If such a major decline indeed transpired, then ETH will dump by another 60%. Moreover, its crash from last year’s all-time high at almost $5,000 would be north of 85%, which will be ‘shitcoin’ territory.
XRP Bottom Closeby
The landscape for ETH seems the most grim given Martinez’s projections. XRP, on the other hand, might be a lot closer to his targeted bottom. He noted that a dominant rising trendline on the monthly chart has “successfully defined every major cycle bottom for nearly a decade.”
If XRP is to find its bottom again there, it could drop to somewhere between $0.70 and $0.90. The lower target would mean a 40% decline, while the higher one is only 21% away from XRP’s current price tag of around $1.15.
5/5 If these projections fully mature, I will be executing a heavy spot-layering strategy directly inside these deep-value windows:$BTC: $43,200$ETH: $700$XRP: $0.90
Pacing capital at these levels keeps the portfolio aligned with structural-cycle data.
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) June 12, 2026
The post BTC vs. ETH vs. XRP: Which Is Closest to a Major Reversal? Analyst Explains appeared first on CryptoPotato.
Crypto World
CFTC Takes New Mexico to Court Over Prediction Market Crackdown
TLDR:
- CFTC sues New Mexico over attempts to apply state gaming laws to derivatives markets
- KalshiEX case triggers wider jurisdiction clash between federal and state regulators in US markets
- CFTC cites Commodity Exchange Act as basis for exclusive authority over event contracts nationwide
- Multiple US states now challenge prediction markets, raising regulatory uncertainty across the sector
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a federal lawsuit against New Mexico over jurisdictional authority on prediction markets. The CFTC argues the state is attempting to apply gaming laws to federally regulated derivatives platforms.
New Mexico previously targeted CFTC-registered KalshiEX, escalating tensions between state and federal oversight. The dispute centers on whether states can regulate event contracts already covered under federal law.
CFTC New Mexico Lawsuit Over Prediction Markets Jurisdiction
The CFTC New Mexico lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington, marking a direct challenge to state-level enforcement actions. The agency seeks to block New Mexico from applying gaming statutes to CFTC-registered contract markets.
According to the filing, federal law grants the commission exclusive authority over derivatives trading venues. The CFTC also requested declaratory relief and a permanent injunction.
New Mexico had earlier filed its own case in state court against KalshiEX LLC.
The state alleged the firm’s prediction markets function as unlawful online sports betting platforms. It also argued the company was attempting to bypass state gaming regulations. That action triggered the federal response from the CFTC.
At the center of the dispute is the Commodity Exchange Act. The law gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over designated contract markets and event contracts.
The commission argues this framework preempts conflicting state gaming laws. It maintains that only federal regulators can oversee such derivatives activity.
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig defended the agency’s position in a statement tied to the filing. He said the state’s approach conflicts with established legal precedent and federal authority.
The commission reiterated that it will continue defending its jurisdiction over commodity derivatives markets.
KalshiEX and Expanding State Challenges in Prediction Markets
The CFTC New Mexico lawsuit is part of a broader wave of state actions targeting prediction markets.
Similar disputes have emerged in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. These cases generally focus on whether event-based trading resembles sports wagering. The CFTC has consistently rejected that framing.
KalshiEX sits at the center of the regulatory friction. The platform offers event contracts that allow users to trade on outcomes of real-world events.
States argue these products resemble gambling instruments. The CFTC classifies them as federally regulated derivatives.
The federal agency is seeking to prevent states from enforcing laws that could restrict CFTC registrants. It argues that fragmented regulation would undermine national market consistency. The lawsuit requests a court ruling affirming federal exclusivity. It also seeks to block state interference moving forward.
Market operators now face growing legal uncertainty as jurisdictional lines tighten.
The outcome of the CFTC New Mexico lawsuit could shape how prediction markets expand in the United States. It may also define how far states can extend gaming laws into federally governed financial instruments.
Crypto World
Crypto Google searches rise again as retail interest rebounds
Crypto search interest is rising again in June, according to Alphractal data, as retail investors appear to be paying closer attention to digital assets after months of weaker activity.
Summary
- Crypto searches rose again in June as retail investors started tracking digital assets more actively.
- Alphractal said search spikes often appear during moments of market euphoria and fear.
- Rising crypto search interest shows attention is returning, but it does not confirm fresh buying.
Crypto searches rise again in June
Alphractal said Google searches for cryptocurrencies are increasing in June. The analytics platform described the move as a sign that retail investors are starting to search more about different crypto assets again.
“Google searches for cryptocurrencies are rising again in June,” Alphractal said.
The move comes after a quieter period for digital asset interest. Search activity often drops when prices move sideways or when retail traders leave the market after heavy volatility.
Alphractal also noted that Google Trends spikes are not always bullish. Search jumps can appear during strong rallies, but they can also happen when traders react to fear, crashes, or uncertainty.
Retail attention returns to crypto
The latest rise suggests that crypto is moving back into retail focus. More users are searching for coins, market direction, and exchange-related terms as the market tries to stabilize.
Search activity is often used as a soft sentiment gauge. It does not show actual buying, but it can show when retail investors start watching the market again.
As previously reported by crypto.news, Bitcoin search interest reached 12-month highs during 2026 volatility. That report noted that fear-driven searches do not always mean new buyers are entering the market.
The same report also said small holders were still selling while whales were accumulating. That means renewed attention must be separated from real capital inflows.
Bitcoin volatility drives interest
Bitcoin’s price action has remained one of the main drivers of crypto searches. The asset traded near the low $60,000 area in June after a deep pullback from its 2025 record high.
Sharp price moves tend to pull retail users back into search engines. Some look for dip-buying chances, while others search because they fear deeper losses.
The recent search rise follows a period when broad crypto attention had dropped sharply. As reported earlier this month, global search interest for “crypto” had fallen to one-year lows earlier in 2026.
That earlier drop showed how much retail attention had weakened even while institutions, ETFs, and treasury buyers played a larger role in the market.
Search data gives mixed signals
The return of search activity can help market watchers track sentiment, but it does not confirm a full retail comeback. Stronger proof would require higher retail trading volume, new exchange deposits, and small-holder accumulation.
For now, the data shows that crypto is gaining attention again. It also shows that traders are reacting to volatility after months of weaker interest.
Search spikes can appear near both tops and bottoms. That makes them useful for tracking emotion, but less reliable as a standalone price signal.
The key question is whether June’s rise turns into sustained participation. If searches keep climbing alongside stronger spot demand, retail activity may become a larger force in the market again.
Crypto World
Strategy’s 32 BTC sale puts Saylor’s Bitcoin mantra on trial
Michael Saylor defended Strategy’s small Bitcoin sale at BTC Prague, saying the move did not change the company’s long-term Bitcoin position.
Summary
- Strategy sold 32 BTC for $2.5 million to fund preferred stock dividend payments due June.
- Saylor said his never-sell advice targeted individual holders, not corporate treasury management decisions at Prague.
- Strategy later bought 1,550 BTC, lifting current reserves to 845,256 Bitcoin after the sale disclosure.
Michael Saylor addressed Strategy’s 32 BTC sale during an appearance at BTC Prague on June 11. The comments followed criticism from traders who questioned the sale after years of “never sell” messaging around Bitcoin.
Strategy sold 32 BTC between May 26 and May 31 for about $2.5 million. The sale came at an average price of $77,135 per coin and marked the company’s first disclosed Bitcoin sale since December 2022.
“I said to YOU never sell your bitcoin,” said Michael Saylor at BTC Prague.
The remark drew attention because Saylor separated personal investor advice from corporate treasury actions. His response framed the sale as a company-level funding decision, not a change in Bitcoin conviction.
Strategy sold BTC to fund dividends
Strategy’s June 1 filing showed that proceeds from the Bitcoin sale were expected to support preferred stock distributions. The board had declared June 30 cash dividends across its preferred share series.
Those obligations include payments tied to STRF, STRC, STRE, STRK, and STRD. The STRC dividend for June carried an annual rate of 11.50%, according to the company filing.
The sale represented only about 0.0038% of Strategy’s Bitcoin balance at the time. That made the transaction small compared with the company’s overall treasury, but it carried more weight because of Saylor’s public messaging.
As previously reported by crypto.news, Strategy’s 32 BTC sale raised debate because the company had built its identity around long-term Bitcoin accumulation. The report noted that the sale was small in size but large in market attention.
Strategy later resumed Bitcoin buying
Strategy later bought 1,550 BTC between June 1 and June 7 for $101.3 million. The company paid an average price of $65,332 per coin and lifted its total Bitcoin reserve to 845,256 BTC.
The purchase was nearly 50 times larger than the 32 BTC sale. It also came as Strategy increased its U.S. dollar reserve by $100 million to $1 billion.
The new purchase eased some concerns over whether Strategy had moved away from accumulation. The same update showed that the company used proceeds from its at-the-market share program to fund the purchase and rebuild cash reserves.
Strategy’s dashboard now lists 845,256 BTC at an average acquisition price of $75,680. That keeps the company as the largest public corporate Bitcoin holder by a wide margin.
Dividend model remains in focus
The debate now centers on how Strategy funds future obligations. Preferred stock dividends create recurring cash needs, while Bitcoin remains the main asset on the company’s balance sheet.
Saylor’s comments suggest that Strategy may separate personal Bitcoin advice from corporate liquidity management. That approach leaves room for limited sales when the company has dividend or financing needs.
Investors will watch the June 30 dividend date for more clues. The key question is whether Strategy uses cash reserves, capital markets, or small Bitcoin sales to meet future payments.
The company’s latest purchase shows that Strategy remains a net Bitcoin accumulator for now. Still, the 32 BTC sale has changed how some traders read the company’s “never sell” message.
Crypto World
Siren crypto crashes 75% after major whale offloads 17 million tokens
Siren has plunged about 75% to $0.126 after a large holder reportedly sold 17 million tokens across multiple on-chain addresses, triggering one of the steepest declines seen in the market this week.
Summary
- SIREN crashed about 75% to $0.126 after a whale reportedly sold 17 million tokens across multiple wallets.
- Open interest fell nearly 40% to $28 million as traders unwound positions and reduced leverage.
- The sell-off renewed concerns over token concentration, with analyst EmberCN claiming whales control 94% of SIREN’s supply.
According to on-chain analyst EmberCN, a whale sold roughly 17 million SIREN tokens, including 6.75 million siren2-native tokens, across multiple addresses over a two-hour period on June 13. The analyst said the selling pressure pushed the token from around $0.47 to $0.23 before losses deepened further. Market data later showed SIREN extending the decline to a low of $0.126 at the time of writing.
EmberCN also claimed that whale-controlled wallets hold at least 94% of SIREN’s total supply, equivalent to about 680 million tokens. The analyst argued that concentrated ownership has allowed a small group of holders to exert significant influence over the token’s price movements.
Whale activity coincides with sharp derivatives unwind
While spot markets absorbed the sell-off, derivatives traders rapidly reduced exposure as prices continued to fall.
Data from CoinGlass showed open interest dropping nearly 40% to $28 million during the decline. The contraction occurred alongside falling prices, a combination that typically points to long liquidations and traders closing existing positions rather than opening fresh bearish bets.
With leveraged positions unwound across the market, speculative activity cooled considerably. The reduction in open interest suggested many traders stepped away after SIREN failed to maintain its earlier rally, leaving the market searching for a new price level following the rapid sell-off.
In a June 13 X post, EmberCN described SIREN as a token heavily influenced by large holders and claimed similar trading cycles had occurred several times in recent months. The analyst alleged that major holders repeatedly accumulated tokens, benefited from rising prices, and later sold into strength before the cycle restarted.
“Every time they finish feasting on the shorts, they turn around and feast on the longs: pump it up dozens of times, then smash it back down. Scoop up the chips and roll into the next round…From February to now, that’s 4 rounds of harvesting in 4 months.”
Similar token collapses have emerged across crypto markets
Recent market events show that sudden token crashes tied to concentrated ownership, liquidity concerns, or unexplained selling pressure have become increasingly common across the crypto sector.
As previously reported by crypto.news, Sahara AI’s SAHARA token fell about 55% on June 9 after heavy selling pushed the asset close to its record low. Responding to the decline, Sahara AI said there were no security issues affecting its token contracts or products and launched an internal review.
A subsequent statement from the project rejected speculation that insiders contributed to the sell-off. Sahara AI stated that no team or investor tokens had been sold or moved, while adding that it had not identified the source of the market pressure.
As previously reported by crypto.news, EDGE tumbled earlier in June after edgeX flagged what it described as unusual market activity. The token fell from about $1.20 to an intraday low near $0.36 before recovering part of the decline.
Although edgeX said preliminary findings pointed to attempts by an external party to manipulate the market, on-chain investigator ZachXBT challenged that explanation. He argued that a small group controlled much of EDGE’s circulating supply and called on the project to disclose details about counterparties and market-making arrangements linked to the token.
Crypto World
Major Pi Network (PI) News: Here’s What All Pioneers Need to Know
The Core Team behind the controversial project has updated the participation and flow model for the Pi Launchpad in a move to strengthen community ties and engagement.
It has opened the doors for Pioneers to participate in testing a second token called ‘SLICE,’ which will run for two more weeks.
Pi Launchpad Update and SLICE Testing
The latest post from the team on X indicated that Pi Launchpad incorporates data and feedback from the first testnet token that commenced testing on PiDay 2026 (March 14) after the new update. Almost 480,000 Pioneers took part in the Launchpad testing and “generated valuable feedback on the Launchpad mechanism.”
According to the team, the feedback has been incorporated into a simpler participation flow, updated Launchpad mechanics, and an improved user experience. Pi Network has now launched its second such test token called ‘SLICE.’ The testing has now commenced and will remain open until Pi2Day (June 28).
Pioneers who want to participate need to follow these steps:
• Open Pi Launchpad in Pi Browser
• Review the SLICE test token and project
• Choose a commitment amount in Test-Pi
• Confirm participation
• Engage with the Slice of Pi app and provide feedback
The testing will help evaluate if the updates can achieve the major goals and provide Pi Network users with another chance to “learn the new ecosystem token mechanics.” The team asserted that SLICE will never go onto Mainnet, as it will only be a Testnet token.
PI Price Update
Despite some other protocol updates and product launches, the project’s native token has remained highly depressed in its price moves. Recall that the overall market-wide crash harmed it severely in the past few weeks, pushing it to a new all-time low of under $0.12, marked on June 6.
It has managed to recover some ground since then and now sits about 7% higher. Nevertheless, the macro scale remains severely painful, with a 95.7% drop since the all-time high seen in late February 2025.
Some on-chain metrics and the upcoming token unlock schedule, on the other hand, suggest that PI’s worst days might be behind it. The RSI is also deep in oversold territory, which could mean a major reversal is upon it, but there’s no clear breakout attempt yet.
The post Major Pi Network (PI) News: Here’s What All Pioneers Need to Know appeared first on CryptoPotato.
Crypto World
ZachXBT links wallet to XMR surge as Tether freezes $72M USDT
Tether froze more than $72 million in USDT on Tron after ZachXBT linked a large wallet to recent Monero buying and a sharp XMR price spike.
Summary
- ZachXBT traced 120.2 million USDT moving through Tron, KuCoin, instant exchanges, Near Intents wallets.
- Tether froze 72.03 million USDT on Tron after a related address was blacklisted Friday morning.
- XMR traded near $357 after surging toward $438, keeping privacy-coin liquidity in focus today Friday.
ZachXBT traces $120M USDT wallet
On-chain investigator ZachXBT said a Tron address received 120.2 million USDT on June 11 before moving funds across exchanges and cross-chain routes. The address was identified as TA6YHqB2xh5HhfmC7WoLQaWmqq7Vv4zCoQ.
The funds later moved in several directions. ZachXBT said more than $12 million went to KuCoin deposit addresses, while $8 million moved to instant exchanges.
Another $8 million was bridged from Tron to Bitcoin and Ethereum through Near Intents. The activity drew attention because it happened before and during a strong move in Monero.
“Yesterday (June 11) TA6YHqB2xh5HhfmC7WoLQaWmqq7Vv4zCoQ received 120.2M USDT on Tron and began transferring $12M+ to Kucoin deposit addresses and $8M to various instant exchanges,” said ZachXBT.
Monero orders linked to XMR spike
ZachXBT said the same entity created large Monero orders. He linked those orders to a sharp XMR move from $330 to $420.
“The entity created Monero orders which caused the XMR price to spike from $330 -> $420,” said ZachXBT.
Monero later traded near $357.20, according to crypto.news market data. XMR recorded a 24-hour trading range between $345.09 and $438.06, showing how wide the move became.
The token’s 24-hour trading volume stood near $291.3 million, while market capitalization was around $6.7 billion. XMR was still up over 3% on the day and almost 10% over seven days.
The move added fresh attention to Monero’s market depth. Large orders can move XMR quickly because the asset has less exchange access than many top tokens.
Tether freezes related Tron address
ZachXBT said Tether later blacklisted a related Tron address holding about 72 million USDT. Whale Alert data showed 72,030,295 USDT frozen on Tron on June 12.
“A few minutes ago Tether blacklisted an address directly related to Ta6YHq with 72M USDT: TBzrPEsStbZAUx2SBhD4oHz8UW3FX9Ak9W,” said ZachXBT.

The freeze shows how issuer-controlled stablecoins can be halted at the token contract level. This makes USDT different from assets like Bitcoin or Monero, where issuers do not control transfers.
As previously reported by crypto.news, Tether froze about $515 million in USDT across Ethereum and Tron over a 30-day period in May. Tron accounted for most of those frozen balances.
Monero rally follows earlier demand
The wallet activity came after Monero had already seen stronger market attention. As previously reported, XMR rose above $350 after double-digit daily gains on June 11.
That earlier move was tied to privacy-coin demand, Cake Wallet’s Passport Prime integration, and renewed attention around Monero security audits. The latest ZachXBT report added a separate liquidity-driven angle.
Monero remains one of the largest privacy coins by market value. Its design hides transaction sender, receiver, and amount details by default, which makes it attractive to privacy users and harder for investigators to track.
The latest price action now leaves traders watching whether XMR can hold above the $350 area. A return toward $400 would keep the breakout debate alive, while loss of support could show that the spike was driven mainly by short-term order flow.
Crypto World
Crypto Scammers Hit World Cup Fans as Tournament Gets Underway
TRM Labs has tied four cryptocurrency addresses to live scams targeting 2026 World Cup fans, spanning fake ticket sites and a fixed-match betting scheme as matches play out across North America.
The blockchain intelligence firm says wallets associated with the operations have received less than $1,700 combined so far. However, it warns that scam volume and frequency could ramp up.
How World Cup Demand Fuels Crypto-Based Scams
Major sporting events create concentrated demand spikes for tickets, travel, and merchandise. Scammers build that timing into their planning, seeding fake infrastructure weeks ahead, then promoting it hard near kickoff, TRM research shows.
FIFA-WTO studies estimate that the tournament could draw 6.5 million attendees and add up to $40.9 billion to global GDP. That scale gives fraudsters a deep pool of potential victims.
Watchdogs flagged the risk early. The FBI warned in May about spoofed FIFA websites built to steal personal data and sell fake tickets. The Better Business Bureau echoed the alarm.
Angela Dennis, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ontario, told reporters why mass demand draws fraud.
“When there is such a mass volume and this high demand, that’s when scammers really get excited because people do fall for the information that they send, whether it’s an email, a phishing email or a text, and having people link to fake sites and providing personal information or payment details to them,” Dennis stated.
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Inside the On-Chain World Cup Scams
TRM identified several on-chain scam types, led by fake ticketing and fixed-match betting. Fraudulent ticket sites pose as official sellers, list sought-after matches, and demand crypto.
One Polygon (POL) wallet pulled in about $1,562, almost all on April 1. A second operation, tied to a Bitcoin (BTC) address, keeps its phishing page live but has not accepted any payments.
Fixed-match schemes charge an upfront fee for supposed insider results. TRM linked one to a Bitcoin wallet that collected small sums between January and May 2026, then routed them into a custodial account.
A third route runs through tokens. TRM pointed to the $WORLDCUP coin. It trades on LBank as a fan-made commemorative project with no FIFA tie, exposing holders to familiar low-liquidity meme coin losses.
Scammers also lean on bridges to muddy the trail, with TRM counting roughly $1.9 billion in scam funds moved through them over time.
A third scam runs through tokens. A coin called $WORLDCUP trades on the LBank exchange, billed as a fan-made commemorative project with no affiliation with FIFA. Holders face the standard low-liquidity meme coin loss patterns when issuers exit.
“The amounts involved in these cases are modest, but the movement of funds follows patterns commonly seen in consumer crypto fraud,” the report read.
Scammers lean on bridges to move proceeds and complicate tracing. Across all tracked activity, roughly $1.9 billion in scam funds has passed through bridges.
TRM expects to see more typologies as the tournament continues, including gambling pitches, deepfake impersonations of FIFA figures, and fake streaming sites.
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The post Crypto Scammers Hit World Cup Fans as Tournament Gets Underway appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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